Single wheel ratchet pipe cutter



Aug. 17, 1948. s, slPsM-A Er AL 2,447,371

SINGLE WHEELLRATCET PIPE CUTTER 1r, INVENTORS B ERT AsKEms STEWART suPsMA AT TORNEYS Aug. l?, 1948. s. slPsMA Erm. 2,447,371

SINGLE WHEEL RATCHET PIPE CUTTER n Filad April So, 1945 v 2 sheets-sheet 'A2 'BERT- ASKERIS STEWART SIPSMA ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 17, 1948 UNITED STATE i SINGLE WHEEL RATCHET PIVPE CUTTER Stewart Spsma and Bert Askeris, Kenosha,A Wis.

Application April 30, 1945, Serial No. 591,062

4 Claims. 1

This invention appertains to a device for cutting cylindrical objects in two, intermediate their ends, and more Aparticularly to a novel ratchet pipe cutter.

y'One of the primary objects of our invention is toprovide a ratchet pipe cutter which can be quickly and easily placed on a piece of pipe be- Atween the ends thereof, without the necessity of slipping the cutter over the end of the pipe and Swhich can be readily operated irrespective of the position of the pipe, and Whether the pipe is in a ditch or not.

-Another salient object of our invention is to provide a pipe cutter embodying an inner G- shaped frame, carrying a single rotatable cutter blade and a pair of guide rollers, and an outer C- Ashaped Aframe rotatably associated with the inner frame, the inner and outer frames being adapted to be readily slipped off and on a pipe when said I frames have their throats in alignment.

A further object of our invention is to provide a novel ratchet mechanism for operatively connecting the inner and outer frames together, whereby upon the turning of the outer frame in one direction, the inner Vframe can be turned therewith for .cutting a pipe and upon the turning of the outer frame in the opposite direction, said outer frame can ratchet over the inner frame.

A further important object of our invention is to provide a novel clutch mechanism carried by the inner frame for engaging the pipe, so that upon the turning of the inner frame in one ldirec- `tion, the clutch can slip over the pipe forpermitting the free rotation of the inner frame and cutter around the pipe andfor automatically engaging the pipe to hold the inner frame against turning movement on the pipe in the opposite direction.

A further important object of ourginvention is to provide a single pipe cutter wheel located on the opposite side of the inner frame from the guide rollers, the guide rollers being of novel;con struction, whereby the metal from the pipe which is pushed aside by the cutter wheel will not in'- terfere with the effective function of said rollers.

Astill further specic object of our invention is to provide automatic means for advancing the cutter blade toward the pipe during the ratcheting 'of thel outer frame-over the inner frame',`so that the proper and eective cutting of the pipe Will take place.

With these and other objects in view,` the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as .will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed,

2 and illustrated in the Vaccompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of our novel pipe cutter with parts thereof broken away and in section to illustrate structural detail.

Figure 2 is a diametric section through the pipe cutter, the section being ltaken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken at right angles to Figure 2, and substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a detail transverse sectional view through the inner and outer frames of thefcutter, illustrating a pair of ratchet dogs for engaging the inner frame, thesection being taken substantially on the line 4.--4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the novel guide rollers and the clutch shoe for engaging the pipe.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figures 1 and 2, looking in the direction ofthe arrows, the view illustrating the means for automatically advancingV the rotatable cutter blade or disc. y

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter P generally indicates our novel ratchet pipe cutter, and the same includes an inner C- shaped frame I0 and an outer C-shaped frame 25. 1

The inner C-shaped frame Il)V is of a substantially channel or U shape in cross section, and hence includes an inner circular wall `II and top and bottom guide flanges I2.V Secured to or formed on the inner wall II are a pair of spaced inner guide iianges I3, and these anges are also spaced from the top and bottom walls I2 and define in conjunction therewith substantially annular guideways I4, for a purpose, which will be later set forth. As the inner frame Ill is of a C- Vshape. in plan,'the flanges I2 and I3 and the inner wall lI are so shaped as to deline' an entrance throat I5 whereby the inner frame can be slipped over a lengthv of pipe. The inner wall I0` is provided with a pair of spaced rows of ratchet openings I6 and the rows of openings I6 are located between the flanges I2 and I3, for a purpose, which will also hereinafter more fully appear. Carried bythe inner frame at one side of the vthroat entrance I5 is a pair of transverselyeX- tending guide rollers I'I and these guide rollers are rotatably carried by bearing plates I8 which can be riveted or otherwise secured to the outer faces of the flanges I2. These guide rollers are adapted to snugly engage a length of pipe when the cutter is placed thereon, and each guide roller, at its longitudinal center, is provided with an annular groove I9, for riding over the burrs produced on the pipe.

The inner frame aiso carries a rotatable cutter wheel or disc 20, and this disc is located n the opposite side of the frame from a point midway between said rollers. It is to be noted that this cutter disc is arranged in alignment with the grooves I9 in the guide rollers I'I. A sliding carrlage 2i is provided for rotatably carrying 'the cutter disc, and this carriage movable radially toward and away from the axial center of our pipe cutter. A guide housing 22 is formed '0n,-or carried by, the inner guide anges I3, and is so shaped `that lateral shifting o the carriage 'is prevented. This guide housing :22 has threaded therein a feed screw 23, and the inner .end of the ieed screw `carries an anti-friction thrust bearing 24 for engaging thecarriage. yt .canine seen 'that when the feed screw 23 is turned in one direction, the :same :forcibly urge the .carriage inwardly with the cutter hiade .2B toward the axial center of our pipe cutter. The feed screw is automatically Jhirned, by means which wili be iater de- The carriage 2| has formed therefor .or secured thereto a pair of guide rods 2i", and these rods slidably extend through the housing 22. The outer ends ci the guide rods are connected by a cross ,piate 22" and the feed screw is rotatably connected with plate in such a .manner that the plate is kmoved with the fffeed :screw during the feeding thereof in out of the housing.

The outer frame .25 .includes upper and lower spaced :shaped vplates .216 and one plate is adapted to Joe-receivedbetwecn fone lset of ang .I2 and 13 of the inner frame and the `other plate is adapted to be received between the other 4'flanges I2 and J3. Eachof the pla-tes 25 riveted or otherwise secured j.thereto a G-shaped guide plate 271, and these plates .'21 enga-ge the adjacent faces of the it. The plates 21 are heldin spaced relation to the plates 28 by spacer blocks 2B eand the pla-tes ZSend 2l' .and :the blocks 28 can :all be riveted toget-er. The space between t-he plates 25 andi? iis utilized for the reception of yratchet dogs .29. f.'rhese dogs are rocha-'bly mounted 'betweentheir ends 'on pivot 30 carried by the plates 2B and 21. T-he inner ends 'of the dogs have formed thereon ratchet teeth 3| which are adapted to engage the walls of openings I6 of the inner frame when the outer fra-me is turned in -onedirectien Contractile coil tsprings 32 are connected with the outer ends of the vdogs and :tothe outer vtrarne .for normally urging teeth -.3`I of the dogs into constant engagement with the enter face of the inner lwall H :of :the inner frame. The upper and lower plates i2t .of the outer iframe :are rigidly :connected together, so that these ptates wiil ,be turned Aas a unit by means a U- shaped bracket 3T3. bracket is of such a ,size as .to readily pass over the :housing 22 for. the nazrrizarfgeV21. The cute-r end of the bracket 33 is formed, gas at 34 adetachably receiving san clon. gated operating handle 35.

from :the so far, it can .be .seen that when the outer frame 25 vis turned by the handle 35 :the ratchet dogs -wiflxl operatively :engage the .inner iframe and the irmer .frame therewith so that 'the mittel' disc '28 :will make the desired cut in the pipe. Upon retrograde movement of the outer frame, the ratchet dogs will ride out of the opening I 6 and ratchet thereover, and consequently the inner frame will not be turned.

As heretofore stated, the cutter disc is automatically advanced during the ratcheting of the outer -frame on the inner frame and to bring this about, the outer end of the feed screw 23 has :keyed for otherwise secured thereto va ratchet Wheel 3-8. The inner face of the bracket 33 has secured theretoan L-shaped angle iron or rib 31, and during the movement of the bracket past the ratchet wheel, the trib Will engage a tooth of the ratchet wheel 36 and turn the feed screw 23 ln the desired direction so that the carriage 2| will be slid inwardly in said housing. If desired, the other .side 'of the bracket 33 can be provided with a similar rib 3l, in which case this additional rib would `be diagonally opposite the rib shown.

When the throat 33 of the outer frame 25 is in alignment with the throat I5 .of the inner iframe, the cutter, as a unit, can be slipped `on and oil? of the pipe. .Itis to he understood, however, the carriage 2| carrying the cutter disc 22 is :fed outwardly to permit the placing of the cutter on Asaid pipe. After .the cutter is properly disposed, then the ratchet Wheel 36 can be turned manuaiy v.untii the cutter .disc 22 bites into the pipe, after which the outer frame can then be turned.

the cutting of the pipe, the cutter disc will push the meta-1 to each side thereof .and the annular grooves I9 in the guide rollers provide a space ,for vriding @ver this metal. Consequently .the guide roller-s will not be forced away from the pipe and .a true guide will be had at ali times,

During the ratcheting of the outer .iframe louest' the inner ,fram-e, there `might be a tendency ci the vinner frame to ride back with the outer frame, fand in order to avoid this and to insure the holding of the inner frame on the pipe, we provide a nove-l clutch mechanism. This clutch mechanism includes a lever y.tik-which is rockably mounted intermediate its ends one :suitable bracket 40 riveted or otherwise fastened tn the outer face of the wall VI! pf the inner frame. The inner end of the ievar 3d =-l'ras :formed thereon or seemed thereto a 'shoe 4I.. vThe outer race of this shoe can be roughened for catching the pipe and the :shoe normally urged toward (the pipe by a contractile coil spring 4.2. One len-d of the :is 'connected to the outer end Aof the .lever and the opposite :end of the spring is connected to the inner fra-me. The .swinging foff the 'lever is such lthat `when the inner fran1e .is turned on the pipe Iin one direction, the shoe will slide over the pipe. However, when there is atendency fof the inner frame to turn .on the pipe in the opposite direction, the shoe will bite into the pipe and hold :the :inner v-frazrn'e against movement thereon.

Secured to the inner .flanges lf3 of the inner frame 'iii are guide .blonks 43,' and these guide blocks engage the outer fedge's .of .the :guide plnies .21 fof' the outer frame. Hence, these blocks i3 form an effective means ror retaining the inner and outer frames in proper Arelation :and prevent shifting of these frames relative to one another, still function to permit the turning of fthe frames relative to one another. Y

By referring to .Figures i and i3 `of the drawings, it can be .seen that the :dogs '28 are so positioned that there always will be certain `of fthe dogs in operative engagement with the `inner frame, 'irrespective of whether the throats of the inner and outer frames `are lin alignment :or not.

hviouslyfpipes or cylinders of various sliver 5 may be cut and, as indicated in Figure 1, a proportionately large pipe is illustrated, wherein the said pipe is positioned eccentrically of the circular opening, while in Figure 3 of the drawings, the pipe is smaller, and, as indicated, is arranged concentrically with the tool.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that we have provided an especially simple and durable pipe cutter of a C shape in plan, which can be easily slipped on and oi a pipe intermediate the length thereof.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of our invention, but what we claim as new is:

1. A pipe cutter comprising an inner frame and an outer frame, the outer frame being rotatably mounted on the inner frame, and each of said frames being of a C shape, means for turning the outer frame, a ratchet mechanism operatively connecting the outer frame with the inner frame, a pair of transversely extending guide rollers carried by the inner frame for engaging a length of pipe, and a single disc cutter blade carried by the inner frame opposite a point between said guide rollers for engaging the pipe, and a clutch mechanism for engaging the pipe when the inner frame has a tendency to turn on the pipe in one direction.

2. A pipe cutter comprising an inner frame and an outer frame, the outer frame being rotatably mounted on the inner frame, and each of said frames being of a C shape, means for turning the outer frame, a ratchet mechanism operatively connecting the outer frame with the inner frame, a pair of transversely extending guide rollers carried by the inner frame for engaging a length of pipe, and a single disc cutter blade carried by the inner frame opposite a point between said guide rollers for engaging the pipe, and a clutch mechanism for engaging the pipe when the inner frame has a tendency to turn on the pipe in one direction, said clutch mechanism including a lever rockably mounted intermediate its ends on the inner frame, a shoe for engaging the pipe on the inner end of the lever and spring means connected with the lever for normally urging the shoe in one direction and into engagement with the pipe.

3. A pipe cutter comprising an inner frame and an outer frame, the outer frame being rotatably mounted on the inner frame, and each of said lll frames being of a C shape, means for turning the outer frame, a ratchet mechanism operatively connecting the outer frame with the inner frame, a pair of transversely extending guide rollers carried by the inner frame for engaging a length of pipe, and a single disc cutter blade carried by the inner frame opposite a point between said guide rollers for engaging the pipe, and a clutch mechanism for engaging the pipe, when the inner frame has a tendency to turn on the pipe in one direction, said clutch mechanism including a lever rockably mounted intermediate its ends on the inner frame, a shoe for engaging the pipe on the inner end of the lever and spring means connected with the lever for normally urging the shoe in one direction and into engagement with the pipe, said lever being arranged between the guide rollers.

4. A pipe cutter comprising inner and outer frames of a C shape, the outer frame being rotatably mounted on the inner frame, a ratchet mechanism operatively connecting the outer frame with the inner frame, a pair of transversely extending guide rollers carried by the inner frame, a housing secured to the inner frame opposite a point between said rollers, a carriage slidably mounted in said housing, a rotatable disc cutter carried by the housing, a feed screw threaded into the housing and engaging the carriage, a ratchet wheel secured to the screw, a U shaped bracket secured to the outer frame for straddling the housing and the Vratchet, wheel, means for turning the outer frame, and an elongated rib carried by the bracket for engaging the ratchet wheel during the turning of the outer frame on the inner frame.

STEWART SIPSMA. BERT ASKERIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberV Name Date 195,307 Post Sept. 18, 1877 882,432 Thomas Mar. 17, 1908 1,092,304 Strickler Apr. 7, 1914 1,841,251 Miller Jan. 12, 1932 2,379,177 Pavey E June 26, 1945 

